Business Journal NORTHEAST
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PENNSYLVANIA
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Working the ‘gig’ economy
NOVEMBER 2015 VOL. 30 NO. 12
A driver checks his Uber service in Chicago. — ZBIGNIEW BZDAK /CHICAGO TRIBUNE/ MCT
By Dave Gardner
A surprising number of Americans are now playing a “gig” quite regularly, although the vast majority of them are not musicians or artists. According to economist Gerald Friedman, this growing number of workers no longer holds a regular job. Instead, they work “gigs,” in which they are employed only for a particular task or temporarily as an independent contractor. This flexible employment, also referred to as contingent or temporary labor, is where entrepreneurship and social media intersect. People working in the “gig” economy made up more than 11 percent of the labor force in 2005. According to Forbes, gig workers could form as much as 50 percent of the Please see GIG on page 12
What are employers finding as open enrollment begins? In a word, confusion
ALSO INSIDE: Holiday Gift Guide This year, Small Business Saturday is Nov.
28. Be sure to shop local.............40
A new lease on life The Mall at
Steamtown is following expert advice and find community-minded uses for former retail space.......................37
Punishing savers The perils of
continued low interest rates...........7
By Kathy Ruff
Both small and large employers across the region grapple with another year of how to best offer health-care benefits for their employees. This year, employers must also weigh how to meet mandates created under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Employers are finding not only changes in coverage options, but also in insurers. A merger between Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BCNEPA) and Highmark Inc. created Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in June. The company says employers will have no changes to their current coverage; however, in 2016, employers will transition to Highmark products as plans renew. “Most of what we do process- and product-wise is very much the same,” says Kerri McKeown, health-care reform program manager and producer liaison with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Wilkes-Barre. “There are some minor differences, maybe in the formulary that we give to our customers and our preventive benefits under the affordable benefits. Upon renewal beginning in January, we will start migrating all of our group members over to Highmark plans, Highmark platforms and systems.” Highmark will launch details of its 2016 offerings when open enrollment begins Nov. 1. Please see OPEN ENROLLMENT on page 45
Auditor General: Through the end
of September, the prolonged state budget impasse forced 17 school districts and IUs to borrow more than $346 million. Interest and fees on those borrowed education dollars could reach $11.2 million................. ..................................................... 16
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